THE Liberal Member for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell, says an elected Matthew Guy Coalition Government will immediately cease the shooting of brumbies in the Barmah and Alpine National Parks.
Ms Lovell has been a strong advocate against the shooting of brumbies, particularly in Barmah Forest, on many occasions calling the State Government to stop culling and to focus on trapping horses for rehoming.
Parks Victoria had reached an agreement with the local Barmah Brumby Preservation Group to trap horses for rehoming, only to recently commence secret shooting operations and hiding carcasses under branches and bushes, as published in last week’s Adviser.
“The Andrews Labor Government knows that its brutal control measures are cruel and inhumane, admitting as much with its secret agreements and extreme efforts to hide massacred carcasses from public view,” said Ms Lovell.
In a recent parliamentary budget hearing, the Labor Government admitted that it was working towards “eradication [of brumbies] over the forward years,”
Governmental tender documents have also revealed that contractors who are employed by the Government to exterminate the brumbies are required to move carcasses to hide their controversial works from public view.
Ms Lovell said this was a direct contradiction to the previous agreement Parks Victoria had made with Barmah locals and showed Labor’s real intention to slaughter the brumby to extinctions.
“My Liberal Coalition colleagues and I agree with the tens of thousands of Victorians who believe brumby populations can be managed without cruel methods or total eradication and our policy will manage Victoria’s brumby population in a way that guarantees the welfare of animals.”
Ms Lovell said the Liberal Coalition policy will involve:
- End to eradication through aerial and ground shooting,
- A thorough and more accurate assessment of the brumby population,
- Population management methods that focus on rehoming and veterinary intervention; and,
- Liaising with New South Wales to coordinate efforts across state borders.
